A photography enthusiast, who purchased over 9,000 negatives from an unknown photographer, has created a project involving snaps taken of that special moment when a couple’s nuptials are sealed with a kiss.
Stephen Gill created his ‘Hackney Kisses’ project after noticing that, within the thousands of negatives, there were numerous photos taken during weddings in the 1950s.

Having initially been disappointed with the quality of the photographs that he bought on eBay, Stephen noticed that those involving the couples engaged in their first kiss showed a marked improvement. Taking four years to scan the negatives, he arranged them together so that the collection – consisting solely of the newlyweds’ first kisses – flows in an aesthetic manner.

Stephen said of the project,

“These were not my photographs; they were personal images of the most important day in many people’s lives, so it was dangerous ground. I was aware that every picture would be loaded in some way, so I had to treat them sensitively and respectfully.”

The interest in the loving embrace of newlyweds from 60 years ago only serves to demonstrate the importance of using a recommended wedding photographer, in Manchester or beyond, to record these special moments in a skilled manner.

It’s natural that a happy couple and their families would look back at pictures of the day for many years to come. Stephen’s project, however, means that for some it will not just be close family who pour over the treasured memories.